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Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14

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    The role of Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) in developing emerging black commercial farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
    (2023) Ndlela, Zenzele; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    This study sought to examine how the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) supports the growth and development of emerging black (Africans, Indian and coloured) commercial farmers in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). The study was anchored on the theory of change which provides a model of how a project management-oriented entity such as ADA should work. Using qualitative research in the form of in-depth interviews (ten participants) with emerging farmers supported by ADA, ADA senior managers and KZN Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development officials and document analysis, the study found that ADA plays a fundamental role in supporting emerging black commercial farmers in the study area through provision of grants, production inputs, equipment, technology, and infrastructure development. Despite the assistance from ADA, findings indicate that emerging black commercial farmers encounter several challenges that are both internal and external. The study also provided recommendations on how ADA should deal with challenges encountered by emerging black commercial farmers. The following policy suggestions are recommended: Financial services, such as credit, must be made available to emerging farmers at reasonable interest rates, including grants with low interest rates for the blended finance scheme, until commercialization. Requirements for accessing loans, funding, or credit for new farmers should be restructured or amended based on the farmer's ability to repay the credit rather than the availability of title deeds or assets as collateral. To gain a better comprehension of their farming regions and techniques, as well as to improve their communication with farmers, extension agents should routinely visit the areas where emerging farmers reside.
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    Monitoring and evaluation on the performance of local government in South Africa: insight from selected district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal
    (2023) Mabizela, Hlengiwe Nomzamo; Zwane, Zwelithini Mangethe
    The poor quality of service delivery in South African municipalities has been documented in numerous studies. The lack of appropriate monitoring and evaluation and complete disregard of adherence to processes and procedures in terms the provisions of legislations such as the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 are two of the main causes of poor service delivery. Poor performance as a result, has been noted in municipalities across South Africa. UThukela, Amajuba, and uMgungundlovu district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal were used as case studies in this research to examine the effect of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) on the performance of municipalities in South Africa. Municipal employees within Performance Management Systems unit (PMS) and Corporate Services unit made up the target population of the research study. The sample consisted of 20 participants, with 10 from the uThukela district municipality, 2 from the Amajuba district municipality, and 8 from the uMgungundlovu district municipality. The research adopted a qualitative approach and followed a purposive sampling method to identify key respondents based on their expertise and understanding of the research issue. Data collection involved conducting focus group discussions with the selected participants. The collected data were analysed using the NVivo software programme, wherein data was categorised into themes and coded for the presentation of findings and discussion of the results. Consent was obtained from participants through the gatekeeper letters and the signing of consent forms. The main goal of the research was to contribute to the body of knowledge while identifying alternate M&E methods that the municipalities can adopt in their key functions to improve performance and service delivery. The study analysed the effects of M&E on the performance of local government, and the models and systems utilised by municipalities to conduct M&E. It further interrogated challenges associated with M&E within the identified municipalities and the contributions of M&E towards improving performance and effective service delivery. According to the findings, M&E in local government have been challenging as a result of the absence of comprehensive M&E systems, capacity and resources. This is one of the factors that contribute to lack of service delivery and poor performance. Weak M&E systems and practices add to municipal failure to achieve their constitutional mandate of service delivery and enhanced performance. Thus, the research reveals that M&E is essential to ensure that local government responds to the needs and demands of the people and enhances municipal performance. Admittedly, there is no single approach to resolve these challenges contronting municipalities, however, M&E can provide the conditions for increased and sustained performance. To realise the goal of improving M&E within local government, the research suggests that municipalities should institutionalise M&E through prioritising and embracing M&E as a crucial instrument for facilitating results-based progressive local government. Municipalities should encourage mandatory compliance with the systems and procedures, adopt information technology systems to advance and strengthen the application of M&E, and adopt approaches such as participatory M&E to evaluate the impact of its functions and development initiatives.
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    Training and development as a driver for performance of the local government employees : a case of Ndwedwe local municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal division
    (2021-05) Zondi, Sbusisiwe; Ajagbe, Musibau Akintunde
    Training involves the knowledge, skills and attitudes required by an individual to perform effectively in assigned tasks. The proper implementation of training and development programmes in any organization ultimately enhances employee and organizational performance. The main aim of the study was to determine the relationship between training and development as a driver for performance of the Local Government employees in order to explore the relationship amongst the factors affecting training, development and performance. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and a closed-ended questionnaire comprising of a Likert Scale as the measurement instrument. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 25.0) was used for data collection and data analysis. The population size of this study was 110 employees from Ndwedwe Local Municipality. Due to the size of the study’s population, a sample of 90 employees was utilized and the sampling framework was the municipal payroll system. The study revealed that training and development did have an influence on individual and organizational performance. The study also identified a performance management system linked to the Personal Development Plan as an essential tool. Due to limited resources, the study was confined to Ndwedwe Local Municipality only. Therefore, the findings or results should not be generalized to all Local Municipalities. The study recommended that the proper implementation of Performance Management Systems linked to appropriate individual performance development plans be implemented. The recommendations could be used in improving training and development and managing employee performance. The study further contributes to knowledge in implementing Human Resources Development policies. It will be valuable in the upliftment of the social economy of South Africa.
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    Development of an extension framework for smallholder farming in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa
    (2018-12) Sebopetsa, Mohale Peter; Bayat, Mohamed Saheed
    ABSTRACT Despite the role of extension being that of improving farming efficiency, public sector extension services is perceived to be ineffective and inadequate in improving sustainable smallholder farming. Several attempts have been made to improve the agricultural extension sector of the South African economy. However, there is still a growing concern for provision of effective and sustainable agricultural extension services to the majority of resource poor farmers who are involved in the bulk of agricultural production. The importance of the agricultural extension system therefore, remains that of a support service to enhance the ability of farming communities to respond to historic challenges and to exploit new opportunities. The aim of this study was to formulate an extension framework for smallholder farming in the Western Cape Province. The objectives of the study were to determine the effectiveness of government extension services, to assess the factors that could influence the linkages between smallholder farmers and extension services, to examine factors that could be perceived by public extension officers as challenges in smallholder farming, to evaluate the usefulness of new innovations introduced through the extension service department and to develop a framework for extension service delivery in the Western Cape in order to improve the effectiveness of this service. The study used an explanatory research design which involves both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study consisted of a randomly selected sample size of 213 smallholder farmers and the sampling technique was non-probability sampling such as typical case purposive sampling. The study revealed through descriptive analysis that the gender representation in the sample was more skewed towards the female (68.08%) majority. The age difference within the sample was also skewed towards youth and economically active smallholder farmers with the majority of respondents being illiterate and semi-illiterate in their educational profiles. Hence, 83.57% of these farmers benefited from short learning government agricultural training. Furthermore, the study revealed that in a less complex environment, sufficient agricultural advice, expert linkage and usage of video have significant impact on the effectiveness of government extension services with regards to smallholder farmers. In a more complex situation the evidence suggests that an increase in expert linkages and usage of videos are the most influential factors to drive the effectiveness of government extension services in these types of farmers. In addition, the findings indicate that at lower levels of educational achievement both male and female smallholder farmers view expert linkages as the most effective factor that could improve government extension service followed by the provision of sufficient agricultural advice and usage of video. The rankings amongst both male and female educated smallholder farmers suggest that the usage of video and expert linkage are the most effective instrument that could improve government extension services. The results further indicate that contacts, capacity building and demonstration have higher impact on the linkages between smallholder farmers and extension officers when network, communication and coordination were held constant. These imply that in an ideal situation, contacts, capacity building and demonstration have a higher degree of impact in determining the incremental and sustainable linkages for these stakeholders. However, poorly educated male smallholder farmers suggest that demonstration was more important in linking them with extension service whilst the female counterparts think that frequency of contacts was the most likely factor that could have linked them to this service. Higher educated smallholder farmers suggested that capacity building and demonstration were the most likely factors that could link them to extension services regardless of their gender differences. The results for the factors that could determine challenges and perceptions of extension services revealed that lack of financial access could significantly reduce the likelihood of extension services to be perceived positively whilst technology access was viewed to be significant in increasing the likelihood of extension services to be perceived as positive. Furthermore, access to technology is viewed by both male and female smallholder farmers as the key challenge to the image of the public extension officers with the lack of finance being regarded as the most challenge for male who have TVET and degree qualifications. The findings regarding the effectiveness of government extension point out that the extension service in Western Cape Province still require significant and sufficient linkages, advice and usage of videos to be effective. The study revealed that it was almost impossible to develop a one-size fit all approach, but suggested some key elements for such a framework to be able to respond to the needs of smallholder farmers. Regarding the linkages between farmers and extension services, the study has uncovered that there are varying linkages which point out that high impact linkages could be established through frequency of contacts, capacity building and demonstration. Furthermore, it is also evident that the challenges and the perception in the extension services still exist despite various initiatives and to avert such challenges and perception, financial and technical technology access is suggested to be essential.
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    Exploring financial and investment strategies as foundational pillars of successful African economies : a case study of Namibia
    (2018) Mutsvene, Thomas; Ngcamu, Bethuel Sibongiseni
    This research outlines that amidst the raging debates, Africa is at the receiving end of the effects of ill-crafted financial and investment strategies of their own making. The major research problem is that African economies lose a lot of investment opportunities through lost investor confidence caused by political polarisation, weakening currency value and ignoring the resources available within the economy. The main aim of the research was to explore how financial and investment strategies can be used to improve African economies to be successful. The goal was to see how financial and investment strategy can be harnessed to achieve successful African economies through examining the effect of such strategies on the economy and comparing performance of Namibian economy against others as well as the impact of joining the rand monetary union and politics. The research adopted a mixed research methodology on data from eight countries out of the total population of fifty four African countries in various income levels. The sample size was two hundred (200) participants and one hundred and fifty (150) responded to the research instrument(s). The major findings revealed that financial and investment strategies revolving around the available resources are the bedrock upon which successful African economies hinge on, hence, there is need to tap into untapped resources and engage in massive beneficiation in pursuit of economic growth and development agenda. Practical and managerial implications of this research show the need of developing financial and investment strategies revolving around economy’s resources so as to tap into significant incomes and investment opportunities wrapped in them. The major contribution of this research is a thrust on beneficiation and value engineering along the resources exploitation value chain as most African literature has provided little scope on the importance of this process and its impact on financial and investment growth in Africa.